Bhagoria Festival

Bhagoria is celebrated by Bhils and Bhilalas tribes in the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is celebrated in the month of March before the festival of Holi. This festival is celebrated in West Nimar and Jhabua districts in Madhya Pradesh. It is also known as Bhagoria Haat festival. It derives its name from the word ”Bhag” which means to run. In this festival boys and girls are allowed to choose their partners and then get eloped. Eventually the couples are recognised as husband and wife. A haat is organised in the form of a marriage market where young boys and girls are allowed to choose their partners. According to the tradition, the boy is supposed to apply red powder (gulal) on the face of the girl whom he chooses as his wife. If the girl is willing, she also applies red powder on the boy’s face. The girl might not accept his offer immediately but in due course the boy can persuade her and succeed. This festival also has agriculture significance as it coincides with the end of harvesting season. Some people also celebrate it to mark the completion of harvesting.

This festival will showcased by Madhya Pradesh on the Republic Day of 2015. But some have alleged the above descried version of festival, as a distorted version. They claim that Haat are like market only and people go here to buy goods for Holi festival and there is no tradition like match making of boys and girls.